Exterior view of a renovated row house with a modern upper extension, featuring a mix of colors and architectural styles.

The exterior view of Providència House in Badalona, showcasing a renovated row house with a modern upper extension. The building features a mix of colors and architectural styles, including a prominent green section with a terrace.

Street view of Providència House with a mix of colorful buildings, highlighting the modern extension of the house on the left.
Terrace view showing tiled flooring and chimney structure, overlooking city rooftops.
Rooftop view with a staircase and metal railing, overlooking a nearby residential building.
A modern house with a green facade and large windows, featuring a unique architectural design and a terrace on the roof.
Rooftop area of Providència House showing a chimney and a staircase leading to an entrance.
Interior view of a staircase with glass enclosure and pendant lights, showing a modern design with wooden elements.
Staircase area with green walls, wooden accents, and a light well.
A person reaching up in a light well, holding yellow fabric, with walls and a circular light fixture around.
Two boys playing with a toy racetrack in a hallway, one sitting and using a phone, the other lying on the floor.
Interior space featuring a staircase, large glass windows, and a plant in a pot.
Staircase with wooden steps and a white railing, illuminated by natural light from a large window. Shelves are seen on the wall, and a green plant is visible outside.
Staircase with a glass railing and a framed artwork in a modern interior space.
Interior of a house with light wood elements and dark flooring, showcasing partitions and a doorway.
A room with wooden flooring, built-in wooden furniture, and a chair near a large window.
Interior view of a bathroom with a shower and bathtub, showcasing yellow and gray mosaic tiles.
Staircase area with wooden steps and modern design elements.
Top-down view of a staircase with wooden steps and a round light fixture, featuring a photograph on the wall and a small table and chair nearby.
Staircase with a fireplace, wooden beams, and a light well above.
Interior of a house showing a staircase, fireplace, and doorway.
Interior view of a living room with a fireplace, a man kneeling by the fire, a woman standing, and a staircase in the background.
Interior of a modern living space with a gray sofa, wooden elements, and decorative glass panels.
Interior view of a kitchen with wooden cabinets and large windows overlooking a garden.
A detailed floor plan of a house, illustrating the arrangement of rooms and outdoor spaces.
First floor layout of Providència House showing rooms and outdoor areas.
A detailed floor plan illustrating the arrangement of spaces in the second level of a house, including rooms and a staircase.
Floor plan of the terrace level with seating arrangements and garden areas.
Architectural cross-section of a house illustrating interior rooms, staircase, and light well.

Story

Transforming a worker-class home into a luminous sanctuary

The Providència House in Badalona is a remarkable rehabilitation and extension project that breathes new life into an existing worker-class row house. Designed by Flores & Prats, this architectural endeavor not only adds a new level and terrace but also redefines the spatial experience within the home, creating a harmonious blend of light and volume.

Originally a two-story structure, the house underwent significant alterations to accommodate its new owners. The challenge of introducing natural light into the central areas of the home was met with an innovative solution: the excavation of a grand light well that rises three stories high. This central void is ingeniously integrated with the staircase, which serves as both a functional and aesthetic element, guiding light from above into the depths of the house.

As one traverses this light-filled space, a sense of theatricality emerges; the staircase becomes a focal point where family members converge, embodying the public heart of the home. The long diagonal views, extending up to ten meters, surprise and delight, transforming the perception of scale within the confines of what initially appeared to be a narrow plot.

The design introduces a significant volume of air and light into the home, allowing every room to participate in the dynamic interplay of light and sight lines across the central well. The main living area, situated on the third level, benefits from a small patio that enhances transparency, blending elements of nature with the interior spaces. Here, light, rain, and air converge, creating an inviting atmosphere filled with warmth and vitality.

This architectural intervention not only respects the original character of the row house but also elevates it, creating a unique living experience that surprises and inspires.

  • Rehabilitation and extension of a worker-class row house

  • Introduction of a three-story light well for natural illumination

  • Central staircase acting as a focal point for circulation and light

  • Long diagonal views enhancing spatial perception

  • Integration of outdoor elements through a small patio

Feature Details
Location Badalona, Barcelona
Area 190 sqm internal, 100 sqm terraces and courtyards
Budget €240,400
Year of Construction 2003-2006, with furniture completed in 2008
Architects Flores & Prats

Technical Summary

Finishes

  • Interior Walls: Walls painted in muted colors.
  • Flooring: Wooden flooring in various rooms.
  • Bathroom: Yellow mosaic tiles in the bathroom.

Materials

  • Concrete — Structural elements and facade.
  • Glass — Windows and staircase enclosure.
  • Wood — Cabinetry and flooring.
  • Tile — Terrace and bathroom flooring.
  • Brick — Chimney structure.

Construction / Systems

  • Light Well: A three-story high light well that allows natural light to penetrate deep into the house.
  • Staircase: Central staircase that connects all levels and facilitates circulation.

Products

  • Not specified

Palette / Lighting

  • Colors: green, wood, yellow, gray
  • Lighting: Natural light from large windows and light wells.

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